Best virtual piano?

[kvotchin]

Will soon be needing a high quality grand piano plugin / library / whatever.

As it stands, I can use any plugins that work in Windows 10, soundware for Kontakt (v5) or Falcon, or yeah, sfz/sf2 I guess.

Got plenty of room on drives, and money is no object.

What, in your opinions, are the absolute best virtual pianos that I could buy and make use of?

Thanks in advance.


edit: Dongles are an immediate “Hell no”, however.

[kvotchin]

Never mind. Found enough, I guess, to choose from.

[Captngeetch]

I love Sonivox 88. Lots of presets, simple eq and reverb too.

[lumcas]

Again, like 1000 times before, there's no the best piano library really. Best for what - pop, cinematic, classical, honky-tonk, playability, footprint? All I can say is that with the release of VSL Synchron series pianos (Steinway, Yamaha CFX and Bluthner so far) my quest for the "best" has finally ended. Keep in mind that you will also need a fast SSD drive and "the best" MIDI keyboard controller to make the most of it - Kawai VPN-1 preferably.

If dongles are a big no for you, take a look at Garritan CFX, it's a very good and versatile library.

[BlackWinny]

For me, the best is Pianoteq 6, resolutely, definitely.

And I insist on the version number, the current one : 6 !

The last time I explained my arguments was recently here:
viewtopic.php?p=7516014#p7516014
followed by the next post immediately after the first above, so here:
viewtopic.php?p=7516028#p7516028

Visit in depth the links contained in these two posts, and... enjoy !

• Technology : the most advanced physical modelling synthesis
• Quality : awesome !
• Space used on disk : 60 Mb. You read correctly: not 60 Gb but 60 Mb !
• Price: only $100.
• Protection : nothing else than a single click in the GUI to definitively activate the plugin.
• And there is a huge community with a forum, a "FXP corner", etc.
• And have a look at some very famous names here who contribute to Pianoteq.

Listen to all the demos (by instrument or by music style) and make your OWN opinion.

The rest is words. Nothing else than words.

[MadDogE134]

myself i prefer uprights but have been looking around for a grand recently and to my ears the best sample lib is the Ravenscroft 275 by VI Labs https://www.vilabsaudio.com/Ravenscroft-By-VI-Labs a bit pricey imo but sounds pretty nice to me. they even have it for iOS and it is by far the best piano for mobile devices and right now it is 50% off so i mite just grab the one for my ipad for now. $17.99 is FAR better than $199 lol (right now that is... Christmas is coming)

[Ploki]

For me, the best is Pianoteq 6, resolutely, definitely.

And I insist on the version number, the current one : 6 !

The last time I explained my arguments was recently here:
viewtopic.php?p=7516014#p7516014
followed by the next post immediately after the first above, so here:
viewtopic.php?p=7516028#p7516028

Visit in depth the links contained in these two posts, and... enjoy !

• Technology : the most advanced physical modelling synthesis
• Quality : awesome !
• Space used on disk : 60 Mb. You read correctly: not 60 Gb but 60 Mb !
• Price: only $100.
• Protection : nothing else than a single click in the GUI to definitively activate the plugin.
• And there is a huge community with a forum, a "FXP corner", etc.
• And have a look at some very famous names here who contribute to Pianoteq.

Listen to all the demos (by instrument or by music style) and make your OWN opinion.

The rest is words. Nothing else than words.

dang, every version sounds better.
someday.

[ramseysounds]

...money is no object...

Buy a real one.

[Obsolete236871]

https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library

I think you will find something there. Mostly in Kontakt format, some additionally in EXS format and some also in SFZ format.


Also:
http://ivyaudio.com/Piano-in-162

https://vis.versilstudios.com/upright-1.html

http://sonimusicae.free.fr/matshelgesso ... ro-en.html

http://freepats.zenvoid.org/Piano/acous ... piano.html


There are also plenty of additional great freebies for the Kontakt format, like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUccilopdOo

[kvotchin]

Buy a real one.

*sigh* . . .

I used to own one, FWIW. And have played many.

There is no way a piano could be put anywhere, in my current dwelling.

So that would be a no, but thanks for your thoughtful, helpful response nonetheless.

[enCiphered]

For me, the best is Pianoteq 6, resolutely, definitely.

And I insist on the version number, the current one : 6 !

The last time I explained my arguments was recently here:
viewtopic.php?p=7516014#p7516014
followed by the next post immediately after the first above, so here:
viewtopic.php?p=7516028#p7516028

Visit in depth the links contained in these two posts, and... enjoy !

• Technology : the most advanced physical modelling synthesis
• Quality : awesome !
• Space used on disk : 60 Mb. You read correctly: not 60 Gb but 60 Mb !
• Price: only $100.
• Protection : nothing else than a single click in the GUI to definitively activate the plugin.
• And there is a huge community with a forum, a "FXP corner", etc.
• And have a look at some very famous names here who contribute to Pianoteq.

Listen to all the demos (by instrument or by music style) and make your OWN opinion.

The rest is words. Nothing else than words.

This!
Pianoteq 6 and Keyscape for the integration in Omnisphere.
You won´t ever need more piano

[TITANAsx]

Awesome

[ramseysounds]

Buy a real one.

*sigh* . . .

I used to own one, FWIW. And have played many.

There is no way a piano could be put anywhere, in my current dwelling.

So that would be a no, but thanks for your thoughtful, helpful response nonetheless.

Yep, the sarcasm isn't lost here

[Bippo]

Addictive keys is usually my first choice, instant loading time and great sound.

[joshsolis]

Yeh Addictive Keys for acoustic pianos.
Lounge Lizard is great for Rhodes and electric style pianos.